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Please Please Someone....CFS question
Does anyone have any good tips on how to help fatigue. I've tried ritalin for my ADD, antidepressants, sleep studies, excersize, accupuncture, more sleep, diets, and I've had all my blood work checked...NOTHING WORKS and my blood was fine! I do have hypothyroidism but havent had problems since I was diagnosed with it. I take synthroid on a daily basis and my levels are normal and have been for years. I've had my heart checked just to make sure that wasnt a problem, and it was normal...no problems. All the doctors I've seen seem to be at a loss with me! All of them just say O you must be depressed... im on the antidepressants right now and NO change!! I feel like i'm going crazy!! I'm always tired!! No energy!!! Noone knows what to do with me....and i'm just hoping someone out there can give me tips? simular stories? ANYTHING! I'm getting desparate!! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!
Chances are you have a low thyroid... apparently almost all of us do (see below). To address your fatigue, consider talking to a physician who knows about various infections... which would include the latest XMRV virus that the majority of CFS patients recently tested positive for.
To help with your fatigue... what has helped me in the short run : Braggs unfiltered apple cider vinegar (a capsize full) in my drinking water... Transfer Factor (expensive, but it has helped me) and/or treatment for allergies and pathogens that you test positive for. Treatment for infections is not easy and there is no standard treatment for viral infections. However... there is treatment for bacterial infections (two-thirds of CFS patients have high frequencies of mycoplasma infection).
T3 REVERSE -- "The mix of treatments needed varies from patient to patient. There are some abnormalities that are common. For instance, close to 100% of individuals with these syndromes have low thyroid. This is, however, usually not picked up on the standard blood tests because the TSH is not elevated in these individuals due to pituitary dysfunction. Many of these individuals will also have high levels of the anti-thyroid reverse T3, which is usually not measured on standard blood tests. In addition, the majority of individuals can also have a thyroid receptor resistance that is not detected on the blood tests. Consequently, thyroid treatment, especially with timed release T3, is effective for many patients. T4 preparations (inactive thyroid) such as Synthroid and Levoxyl do not work well for these conditions."
Kent Holtorf, M.D. --- link to article: http://www.chronicfatiguesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-treatment.htm
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Fibromyalgia/Diagnostic--Blood-Tests-to-Help-Diagnose-CFS/show/376?cid=39
To help with your fatigue... what has helped me in the short run : Braggs unfiltered apple cider vinegar (a capsize full) in my drinking water... Transfer Factor (expensive, but it has helped me) and/or treatment for allergies and pathogens that you test positive for. Treatment for infections is not easy and there is no standard treatment for viral infections. However... there is treatment for bacterial infections (two-thirds of CFS patients have high frequencies of mycoplasma infection).
T3 REVERSE -- "The mix of treatments needed varies from patient to patient. There are some abnormalities that are common. For instance, close to 100% of individuals with these syndromes have low thyroid. This is, however, usually not picked up on the standard blood tests because the TSH is not elevated in these individuals due to pituitary dysfunction. Many of these individuals will also have high levels of the anti-thyroid reverse T3, which is usually not measured on standard blood tests. In addition, the majority of individuals can also have a thyroid receptor resistance that is not detected on the blood tests. Consequently, thyroid treatment, especially with timed release T3, is effective for many patients. T4 preparations (inactive thyroid) such as Synthroid and Levoxyl do not work well for these conditions."
Kent Holtorf, M.D. --- link to article: http://www.chronicfatiguesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-treatment.htm
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Fibromyalgia/Diagnostic--Blood-Tests-to-Help-Diagnose-CFS/show/376?cid=39
Hello CassieB,
I am curious about your Hypothyroidism. (What was your TSH level- FT4, FT3 at last time your were checked?) That can cause fatigue if not properly treated. I know from a lot of research (my family is plagued with autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto's and Grave's disease), that if your levels are off, that you will experience fatigue. I am not sure, but It's possible that your doctor doesn't have your thyroid medication adjusted properly. Treating hypothyroidism seems to be an art. If I were you I would talk to your doctor and if he/she doesn't consider at least checking it out, I might seek out a second opinion. To me, it seems like the most obvious cause of your fatigue. Good luck to you.
I am curious about your Hypothyroidism. (What was your TSH level- FT4, FT3 at last time your were checked?) That can cause fatigue if not properly treated. I know from a lot of research (my family is plagued with autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto's and Grave's disease), that if your levels are off, that you will experience fatigue. I am not sure, but It's possible that your doctor doesn't have your thyroid medication adjusted properly. Treating hypothyroidism seems to be an art. If I were you I would talk to your doctor and if he/she doesn't consider at least checking it out, I might seek out a second opinion. To me, it seems like the most obvious cause of your fatigue. Good luck to you.
I've never been tested for the Epstein Barr Virus. But as I understand it over 70% of the population will test + for that test and theres nothing you can do even if you do test +. I know not all act the same towards that virus also. I dunno.... and I'm not a fan of Caffiene, it makes my shakey!
Have you looked at the endfatigue.com website? There are all kinds of things which can contribute to fatigue and Dr Jacob Teitelbaum (author of Fatigued to Fantastic) is a respected authority on the treatment of CFS.
I'm waiting for my improvement to start, but one of the key things he says is that everyone with a diagnosis of CFS should be treated for Candida. And there are a host of things he recommends as well as a free online questionaire to fill in and get a clearer idea of what areas of your health need addressing. Well worth looking at.
Better than our doctors here at ground zero are offering!
Suzie
I'm waiting for my improvement to start, but one of the key things he says is that everyone with a diagnosis of CFS should be treated for Candida. And there are a host of things he recommends as well as a free online questionaire to fill in and get a clearer idea of what areas of your health need addressing. Well worth looking at.
Better than our doctors here at ground zero are offering!
Suzie
CassieB,
What kind of blood work have you had done? Did they test you for Epstein Barr Virus? I ask because I have been through a battery of tests, kept telling my doctors that my fatigue was not normal, etc. I was told to go on anti-depressants but I refused. I knew I wasn't depressed, just abnormally tired. My pulmonologist finally tested me and said he was 99% sure I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My primary agreed. After I bought the book from Fatigued to Fantastic, and read the symptoms, etc. I couldn't believe it.It was describing me to a T.
In addition, I did get tested for my heart and I have Prinzmetals Angina, which can contribute to the fatigue, sort of a double whammy.
Keep pushing your doctor, do not accept the anti-depressant as the answer. I have found over the 2 years of testing that I have through, that the male doctors in particular, tried to pat me on the head and give me anti-depressants. It is their "cure-all" answer.
oh, and as for the energy drink. You could try 5-hour Energy drink too. It is only vitamins (mostly B) and some small caffeine. It works for alot of people, if you need something for the moment.
Let us know!
What kind of blood work have you had done? Did they test you for Epstein Barr Virus? I ask because I have been through a battery of tests, kept telling my doctors that my fatigue was not normal, etc. I was told to go on anti-depressants but I refused. I knew I wasn't depressed, just abnormally tired. My pulmonologist finally tested me and said he was 99% sure I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My primary agreed. After I bought the book from Fatigued to Fantastic, and read the symptoms, etc. I couldn't believe it.It was describing me to a T.
In addition, I did get tested for my heart and I have Prinzmetals Angina, which can contribute to the fatigue, sort of a double whammy.
Keep pushing your doctor, do not accept the anti-depressant as the answer. I have found over the 2 years of testing that I have through, that the male doctors in particular, tried to pat me on the head and give me anti-depressants. It is their "cure-all" answer.
oh, and as for the energy drink. You could try 5-hour Energy drink too. It is only vitamins (mostly B) and some small caffeine. It works for alot of people, if you need something for the moment.
Let us know!
No I don't have a regular tried-and-true remedy for long term, but I rarely skip my morning coffee. Occasionally if I need to get a lot done one particular day, I will drink a Monster Energy Drink. They aren't the best for you but ok for me for a short fix. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes me even more tired. Good luck finding something.
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